Leaky Gut Testing
The Leaky gut test (intestinal permeability test) is a test that assesses damage to the lining on the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in intestinal permeability are associated with many health conditions. This ‘leaky gut’ causes disease because the perturbed intestinal barrier allows toxic molecules to enter the bloodstream and poison the body. It involves a visit to Synlab for collection of a urine sample following the ingestion of a testing solution. The solution contains molecules of different sizes and the rate that these molecules pass through the intestine is measured to give an analysis of intestinal permeability and tight junction activity.
Increased gut permeability has been observed in a range of disorders such as:
- Food allergies and/or sensitivities
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- IBS
- Coeliac disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Obesity
- PCOS
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Type-1 diabetes
Leaky gut syndrome is also known as intestinal permeability. A normal healthy gut lining allows certain molecules to pass across into the bloodstream such as vitamins, minerals and digested foods. It also acts as a barrier to prevent entry of larger damaging molecules, foreign particles and bacteria. When there is damage to the intestinal lining, it can open up slightly and this allows larger particles to enter into the bloodstream, which leads to malabsorption of nutrients as they pass through into the blood stream in a form that the body cannot use.
The immune system sees these particles as foreign and as a result, you can develop food sensitivities and candida infections. This can lead to inflammation, irritation and allergic like reactions. Both malabsorption and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) are associated with chronic gastrointestinal imbalances as well as many systemic disorders.
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